Seafood Pad Thai with Spicy Tamarind Sauce

This recipe for seafood pad thai in a spicy tamarind sauce is from episode 10 of This Food That Wine.

Wine Suggestion: Gewürztraminer 

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 8oz Thai rice noodles (227g)
• ¼ cup tamarind paste (60ml)
• ¼ warm water (60 ml)
• 2 tablespoons lime juice (30ml)
• 2 tablespoons grated palm sugar (30ml)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce (30ml)
• 4 oz fresh firm tofu (113g)
• 1/4 cup safflower or vegetable oil (60ml)
• 2 teaspoons garlic, finely chopped (10ml)
• 2 eggs
• 12 large shrimp, 21/25 count, peeled and deveined
• 20 medium sized scallops (approximately the size of a quarter) cleaned and de-bearded
• Chili sauce to taste
• 1 cup bean sprouts, washed (250ml)
• 3 green onions, stems only (white removed) cut into 1 inch pieces
• 6 tablespoons unsalted peanuts, ground (80ml)
• Cilantro to taste (optional garnish)
• 6 lime wedges (optional garnish)
• Red and yellow bell peppers to taste, thinly sliced (optional garnish)

Directions

1. Soak rice noodles in a big bowl of cold water a minimum of 1 hour.
2. Combine tamarind paste with warm water in a small bowl and allow it to soak for 15 minutes.
3. Mash the tamarind paste with a spoon. Transfer the mixture to a strainer set over a bowl.  Push the tamarind mixture with a spoon through the strainer, forcing the liquid to strain into the bowl.  Scrape off the juice that clings to the underside of the strainer.  You should have about 4 tablespoons of the tamarind juice. Combine tamarind with lime juice, palm sugar and fish sauce. Set aside.
4. Cut the tofu into 1/2 inch cubes.  Pat dry using a paper towel.
5. Heat oil in a wok over high heat until it is just about to smoke.  Add the tofu and cook until golden brown. Add garlic and stir fry for 20 seconds.  Add the eggs and cook, without breaking the yolk, for 1 minute.  Add the seafood and cook for 1 minute. Stirring constantly, add the noodles and sauce.  Finally add the chili sauce for desired heat.
6. Remove the wok from heat and toss in the bean sprouts, green onions, and ground peanuts.
7. Divide Pad Thai onto 6 plates to serve.
8. Garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges and thinly sliced red and yellow pepper if desired.

Pairing Notes

Description: Gewürztraminer typically has a very aromatic nose, with floral, perfumey aromas and sweet tropical fruit flavours.  It is medium to full in body with exotic rose, jasmine and orange blossom notes and sweet, ripe fruit balanced by light yet crisp acidity.

Pairing: Gewürztraminer is becoming a new classic pairing for Asian cuisine.  Because the dish has so many flavours and contrasting textures you need a wine with an abundance of taste to stand up to it.  The Gewürztraminer does just that.  It washes away the salt and spice with exotic flavours and readies your mouth for your next bite.

Wine Suggestion: Miguel Torres Gewürztraminer (Chile)